Road-marking machine



June 10, 1930.

J. H. KIRKMAN ROAD MARKING MACHINE Filed April 16,1929- 5 Sheets-Sheet 1v June 10, 1930. J. H. KIRKMAN ROAD MARKING MACHINE Filed April 16, 15295 Sheets-Sheet 2 r M n e D n 3 Filed April 16, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Iwma i Enuentor,

Cttomcgp' a a R.

June 10, 1930. J. H. KIRKMAN ROAD MARKING MACHINE Filed April 16,1929

5 Sheets-Sheet I I z Q A F L C G W w x W m QR Q R mm M 5 MR n v 1 L LWm. kw fi Mm Q .Qm W\ Summer, i

9 attorney- June 10, 1930,, J. H. KIRKMAN ROAD MARKING MACHINE FiledAprill6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented .lune 10, 1930 ATENT OFFICE JAMESH. JKIRKMAN, F SMITHFTELP, NORTH CAROLINA ROAD-MARKING MACHINEApplication filed April 16,

. This invention relates to painting machines and among other objectsaims to provide an improved apparatus mounted on a self-propelledvehicle for marking trafiic guide lines on roads and for applying paintto varioussurfaces.

Tn the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of aportion of the improved apparatus mounted on a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the motor vehicle chassis and parts of theapparatus associated therewith;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the road markor device looking in thedirection of the arrows in Fig. 4, and drawn on a larger scale; v

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 ofFig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is a section view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 4. I

Referring to the drawings, the preferred 30 embodiment of the inventionis there shown as being mounted on a motor truck 10 of any approvedconstruction. The apparatus 1ncludes generally paint receptacles ortanks 11 and 12 from which the paint is forced 35 under. pressure eitherto a road marking device in the form of a paint distributor 13 mountedon one side of the truck or to valved outlets to which suitable sprayguns may be connected for painting houses or the 40 like. Air pressureis supplied to the receptacles 11 and 12 from a compressed air tank'14which is in turn supplied with air from a compressor 15.

Referring to Fig.2, the tanks 11, 12 and 45 14 and the compressor 15 areshown as being mounted in the rear of the drivers seat '16 on a platformor bed 17 secured to the chassis, the tanks 11 and 14 being atone sideof the bed while-the other tank 12 and compres- 50 sor are mounted onthe opposite side. The

lid

tanks 11 and 12, respectively.

1929. Serial 7310.355459.

tanks 11 and 12 which are of any desired capacity are preferablycylindrical and mounted upright as shown and both may contain paint ofthe same color or diflerent colors.

lln order to drive the compressor and other mechanism to be laterdescribed, a power take-ofi' shaft 18 is connected to the transmission19 of the vehicle (Fig. 4) and extends longitudinally of the vehiclebeneath the platform. Mounted above the platform in suitable bearings 20is a line shaft 21 which extends longitudinally of the 1 vehicleapproximately midway of the sides thereof. The line shaft is shown asbeing. driven by means of a sprocket chain 22 trained over sprocketwheels 23 and 24 secured to the shafts 18 and 21, respectively. Thecompressor is driven from the line shaft by means of a belt 25 passingover a pulley 26 secured to the jack shaft 21 and a pulley 27 secured tothe compressor shaft. To permit the compressor to be operated or stoppedas desired, a loose pulley 28 is journaled on the compressor shaft sothat the belt may be shifted thereon by any suitable means (not shown.)

The air fromthe compressor is forced through a pipe 29 into the tank 14and passes from the tank through an air filter 30 to a main air conduit31 which extends longitudinally of the vehicle. The conduit terminatesat its rear end at a valved outlet 32, while the otherend leads to apressure gauge 33 mounted on the instrument board 34.

In order to apply pressure to the paint in the closed tanks 11 and 12,an air conduit 35 which is connected at one end to the main conduit 31just below the gauge 33, is connected at its other end by means of a T,to pipes 36 and 37 leading to the tops of the To maintain a desiredpressure in the tanks,-an adjustable automatic regulating valve 38having a gauge '39 is interposed in the conduit 35 adjacent to the gauge33. Suitable valves 40 and 41 in the pipes 36 and 37 permit the air tobe cut off from the tanks lland 12 respectively, while a valve 42 in theconduit 35 can be used to cut off the air from both tanks if desired.

' The paint under pressure in the tanks may pass through pipes 43 and44, respectively, to a fitting 45 which communicates with both a pipe 46leading to a valved outlet 47 at the rear of the vehicle and also a' pie48 lead- Air at a desired pressure may pass from.

the main air conduit through a regulating valve 57, gauge 58 and controlvalve 59 to a conduit 60 which leads to a valved outlet 61 at the rearof the vehicle. The conduit 60 is also connected to a transverse airpipe 62 arranged adjacent to the pipe 54 and having a--- valved outlet63 and an outlet 64 at opposite sides of the vehicle.

In order to keep the paint in the tanks v thoroughly mixed, an agitatorin the form of a rotatable paddle wheel 65 is arranged in each tank 11and 12. Herein, the agitator 65 is secured to a shaft 66 which ismounted in suitable bearings. and extends through a stufiing box at oneside of the tank. Loose and fast pulleys 67 and 68 are mounted on eachshaft so that belts 69 connected to pulleys 70 on the shaft 18 may beshifted by suitablemeans (not shown) to operate or stop the agitators.

The road marking device which is connected to the outlets 56 and 64 isshown in Fig. 1 as being supported from the left side of the vehicle andis arranged so that a well defined strip of paint may be applied in thecenter of the road in accordance with modern custom. The device islaterally adjustable, as will be later described, so that it may be usedon roads of various widths and means are also provided to guide thevehicle so that the paint will be applied parallel to the edge of theroad.

The marking device 13 is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 and in thepresent instance is shown as being formed of standard pipe and pipecouplings.- A paint pipe 71 and an air pipe 72 which extendapproximately at right angles from the side of the vehicle are connectedat their inner ends to the pipes 54 and 62 by couplings 56 and 64. Theirouter ends are connected to cross fittings 73 and 74 respectively, whichin turn are secured to but are not in communication with each other. Thepaint line leads downwardly from the cross 73 through a double clean outplug 75, then forwardly through a pipe 76 normally closed by a gatevalve 77 and into the vertical intake 78 of the paint 82 to a T 83arranged above the nozzle 79.

From the T, the air line continues forwardly and downwardly through aconduit 84 to the air nozzle 85 which is arranged just in front of thepaint nozzle 79 to clear the road of dirt or the like ahead of the paintnozzle. The intake? 8 of the paint nozzle is provided with a valve 86 toregulate the flow of paint from the nozzle 79. The intake 78 is securedto the T 83 for rigidity, but is not in communication with the air line.

The pipes 71 and 72 are supported from the ground by means of a wheel 87journaled in standards 88 secured to said pipes as shown in Fig. 7, theconnections to the pipes being such that the pipes are not incommunication with each other. Diagonal braces 89 are secured to thepipes 71 and 72 and to the chassis to hold the pipe rigidly and in orderthat the marking device may be adjusted to apply paint at variousdistances from the edge of the road, or so that the paint may be appliedto the center of roads of various widths, the braces are made adjustableand removable sections are provided in the pipes 71 and 72 which may bereplaced by others of different lengths. These sections which areclearly shown in Fig. 7, are provided with suitable union couplings andare preferably secured together as shown so that they may be removed andreplaced as a unit.

Suitable valved hose connections 90 may be connected to the crosses 73and 74 so that paint or air may be obtained for any desired purpose. Thevalve 77 which is. normally closed by spring pressure may be operatedfrom the drivers seat by means of a cable 91 or the like. To prevent thepaint from making too wide a strip, as it is applied to the road, arelatively lar e disc 92 is rotatably mounted on each si e of the nozzle79 on a shaft secured to the T 83. The rims of the discs contact withthe road and their axis is directly above the nozzle 7 9 so that, whenthe paint under pressure spreads out on touching the road, it cannot gobeyond the rims of the discs, but will adhere to the discs'and becarried around with them, thus making a well defined edge at the side ofthe painted strip.

In order to guide the vehicle so that the road may be properly marked,a' disc93 is secured to the outer side of the front right wheel 94, thedisc being somewhatlarger in diameter than the tire on the Wheel so'that the edge of the disc may engage the side edge of the road.

Carried by the front axle 95 of the vehicle is a scraper blade 96 whichis adapted to mean-ea tions from the right hand edge of the road.

Angularly disposed arms 97 are .pivoted at their front ends to cars 98attached to the upper portion of the scraper blade which is preferablycurved forwardly at its lower edges as indicated in Fig. 9. The frontends of the arms 97 have dependin portions 99 to abut the rear face ofthe blade 96 and prevent the lower portion of the latter from tiltingrearwardly but permit the blade to be rocked forwardly and upwardly outof contact with the road when not in use. The rear ends of the arms 97are adjustably connected to the front axle by clamps 100.

To remove the dirt from the edge of the road so that the disc may comein contact therewith, a socket 101 is secured to the lower outer cornerof the blade 96 and is adapted to receive the shank of an angular spike102, the inclined portion of which is adapted to cut a groove in theearth adjacent the edge of the road.

A wire 103 may be'secured to an arm projecting upwardly from the scraperblade, and is preferably extended to a point where the driver may rockthe blade and secure the wire in any manner to hold the blade ininoperative position.

Inorder to level ofi' the edge of the road and replace the dirt that mayhave been thrown therefrom by the passage of the spike 102 and disc 93,a second scraper 104: is secured to the right hand running board 105 ofthe vehicle and is curved forwardly at its lower edge and anglularlydisposed in an opposite direction to t e scraper 96.

In Fig. 4 a mower 106 is shown as being pivotally secured on the runningboard 105 and is adapted to be driven from the take-off shaft 18 asshown in Fig. 4, so that the grass or weeds along the right hand side ofthe road may be cut as the vehicle advances.

Safety valves 107 are provided at the top of each tank 11, 12 and 14 totake care of excess pressure within the tanks and a whistle 108 may. beconnected to the tank 14jand operated by the driver to warn traffic ofthe approach of the vehicle.

The safety valves for the tanks 11 and 12 are preferably arranged toserve as plugs for filling openings. To warn the operator when the paintsupply in either of the tanks 11 or 12 is getting low, a whistle 109 maybe located on top of each tank and is adapted to be operated by a float110 within the tank near the bottom. A clean out conduit 111 may beprovided at the bottom of each tank to remove any residue.

If desired, a tank 112 adapted to contain a fluid such as white-wash,insecticide, or-the like, may be arranged near the rear of the platform.An agitator is also arranged in this tank and is driven in a similarmanner to the agitators 65 by means of a belt 113 passing around pulleys114E'and 115 on the shaft 18 and agitator shaft 116 respectively. Theshaft 116 may also be-connected to operate a spray pump 117 adapted toWithdraw the white wash from the tank 112 through a valve controlledpipe 118 and discharge it through suitable hose 119.

lVhen using the machine as a road marker, one of the tanks is filledwith .white paint, or if desired, both may contain white paint, so thatwhen the supply in one is exhausted, the paint in the other may be usedwithout any interruption in the application of paint to the road.Assuming, however, that tank 11 contains a supply of white paint, andthe tank 12 contains black paint for painting bridges, etc., and thetank 112 contains insecticide or white-wash, the engine of the vehiclemay be started to operate the compressor while the vehicle isstationary, so that a supply of compressed air may be stored in thetank. At this time, all valves are closed but as soon as enough airpressure is accumulated in the tank 14, the valves 42, 40, 50, 49 andare opened so that when the vehicle starts along the road to be marked,the operator needs only open the valve 59 which carries air to be discharged from the nozzle to clean the road in front of the spray nozzle79. By pulling the cable 91, the white paint from the tank 11 is forcedunder pressure through the nozzle 79 to the road.

While the road is being marked, anyone standing at the rear of theplatform may spray trees along the road with insecticide or white-washfrom the tank 112.

On reaching a small bridge to be painted,

the valves 40,50 and 80 are closed and the air and paint hose of aconventional spray gun (not shown) may be connected either to the valves73 and 90, valves 63 and 55 or valves 61 and 47. Assuming that the gunvis connected at the rear valves, it is only necessary to open thesevalves 61 and 47, and valves 41 and 51 so that paint is forced from tank12 through pipe 46 to the gun while air is supplied through pipe 60 tothe gun.

It is to be noted, that the paint is ejected from the various paintoutlets at a predetermined pressure by adjusting the valve 38 until thedesired pressure is indicated on the gauge 39. The air is regulated tothe same or a different pressure in the same manner by means of thevalve 57 and gauge 58. The regulation of both air and paint pressuresinsures that the paint is spread evenly.

When the machine is to be used for painting houses, barns, etc., paintof the desired color is introduced into one or both of the tanks byremoving the safety valves which are replaced when the tank contains thedebe seen that this improved portable and compact painting machine isadapted to be used for various kinds of painting either' while themachine is in motion or stationary. Moreover, it is particularly adaptedfor applying well defined trafiic guide lines to roads.

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to theparticularembodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is notindispensable that all of the features of the invention be usedconjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in variouscombinations and subcombinations.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with'a motor vehicle, means carriedthereby for marking a roadway and comprising a paint container; a

zle supported on and projecting from one side of the vehicle adjacent tothe road; a disc rotatably mounted on each side of the nozzle andengageable with the road to restrict the lateral flow of paint from thenozzle, means for supplying paint under pressure to the nozzle andremovable means at one side of the vehicle arranged to engage theshoulder of the road and automatically guide the vehicle parallelthereto.

5. A marking machine for paved highways, comprising, in combination, amotor vehicle; paint applying means at one side of the vehicle to make acentral stri e on the highway; and a disk secured to t e outer side ofthe front wheel of the vehicle opposite from the paint applying means toengage the shoulder of the pavement and guide the vehicle to runparallel with the o shoulder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature.

JAMES H. KIRKMAN.

paint distributor located adjacent to the surface of the roadway; meansfor forcing the paint under pressure from said container to thedistributor for application to the roadway; and means on one front wheelof the vehicle for engaging the side edge of the roadway toautomatically guide the vehicle in parallelism thereto.

2. In combination with a motor vehicle, means carried thereby formarking a roadway and comprising a paint container; a paint distributorlocated at one side of the vehicle and adjacent to the surface of theroadway, means for forcing the paint under pressure from said containerto the distributor for application to the roadway; means on one frontwheel of the vehicle to guide the vehicle parallel with the edge of theroadway; and spaced disk wheels for confining the paint from thedistributor to form a relatively narrow stripe longitudinally of theroadway.

3. In combination with a motor vehicle, means carried thereby formarking a roadway and comprising a paint container; a paint distributorlocated adjacent to the surface of the roadway; means for forcing thepaint under pressure from said container to the distributor forapplication to the roadway; means for engaging the roadway toautomatically guide the vehicle in parallelism thereto; and meansmounted in advance of the road-engaging "means to cut a trench for theguide mean.

' 4. In combination with a vehicle, a removable paint distributorincluding a noz-

